By David Anderson
Whereas barn-raising managers and council members recognize, celebrate, and encourage “residents’ strong sense of family and support for each other,” the vending machine mentality in contrast chiefly is more interested in counting the cash contributions of consumers – the latter the traditional concept of government as a service provider – kicking out services for taxes deposited.
The alternative to the vending machine is the ‘closer to the people’ model or barn-raising approach that “requires significant outreach and building of rapport with individuals, families, and groups in a targeted neighborhood.”
In barn-raising “cities and counties literally compete on a daily basis for people’s hearts and minds,” whereas vending machines compete only for people’s wallets.
As Marcus Roberts headlined an article he wrote: “Demography is Destiny” – not ‘economy is destiny.’